Marmaray Tunnel: seamless transport between continents

The Marmaray Tunnel connects the Asian and European sides of Turkey, enabling seamless intercontinental rail freight transport in the greater Istanbul area. The Rail Cargo Group (RCG) is currently the only railway logistics provider that has a licence to pass through the Marmaray Tunnel.

Opened in 2013, the Marmaray Tunnel connects Halkalı on the European side of Istanbul with Gebze on the Anatolian side. The tunnel connection between Kazlıcesme and Ayrılıkcesmesi stations is particularly interesting, where trains enter the tunnel on the European side and exit on the Anatolian side - and vice versa. There is a section under the Bosporus, where trains can travel directly under the strait between Europe and Asia.

Exclusive goods train crossings for the RCG

At night, when passenger traffic is at a standstill, the Marmaray Tunnel is open to rail freight traffic. This means that transport operations between Europe and Asia can be carried out without interruption, as truck handling and onward carriage on the Asian side of Istanbul are no longer necessary. Strict conditions apply to rail freight transport: the transport of chemicals is prohibited, as is the transport of empty, cleaned wagons that were previously loaded with chemicals. The maximum permissible width of the wagons is 3150 mm. Each goods train requires a separate licence from the Turkish state railway TCDD and will be checked for freight and wagon specifications. RCG is currently the only railway logistics provider that can transport goods trains through the Marmaray Tunnel and has already transported block trains with containers, swap bodies and semi-trailers through the tunnel, for example to the Köseköy freight terminal.

Significance for the Turkish automotive industry

The automotive industry plays an important role in the entire production sector of the Turkish economy. The majority of companies producing for the automotive industry are located in the Marmara region in the west of Turkey - an important reason to reach Turkey's most industrialised region by rail. The Marmaray Tunnel plays an important role for the RCG. In recent years, the group has already transported numerous car trains from Europe to Turkey. This year, a fully loaded car train was transported from Turkey to Europe for the first time - a milestone for the country's up-and-coming automotive industry.

Future potential through third Bosporus bridge

In addition to the Marmaray Tunnel, the planned rail link on the third Bosporus bridge opens up new potential for rail freight transport between the continents. TCDD and the Turkish Ministry of Transport have announced an official tender procedure for the integration of a railway line on the third bridge. This expansion promises decisive advantages for the domestic production economy and international transport flows between Asia and Europe - especially on the important rail corridors through Eurasia.

21.11.2024